Supreme court affirms forfeiture of $40,000 undeclared cash by Sule Lamido’s son
The supreme court has upheld the forfeiture of $40,000 undeclared cash seized from Aminu Sule Lamido, son of Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa, affirming earlier judgements of the federal high court in Kano and the court of appeal, Kaduna division.
In a judgement delivered on Friday, January 16, 2026, the apex court resolved all grounds of appeal in favour of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bringing the long-running case to a close.
Lamido was arrested by EFCC operatives on December 11, 2012, at the Aminu Kano International Airport while travelling to Cairo, Egypt. He was found to be in possession of $50,000 but falsely declared the amount as $10,000 to officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in violation of foreign exchange regulations.
He was subsequently arraigned on February 4, 2013, before Justice Fatun O. Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano, on a one-count charge bordering on money laundering and false declaration of foreign currency.
Despite pleading not guilty, Lamido was convicted on July 12, 2013. The court ordered the forfeiture of $40,000 — being the undeclared portion of the cash — to the federal government.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, Lamido appealed to the court of appeal, Kaduna division.
In a judgement delivered on January 5, 2016, a panel comprising Isaiah Olufemi Akeju, Habeeb Adewale Abiru, and Oludotun Adefope-Okojie dismissed the appeal and upheld both the conviction and the forfeiture order.
Lamido further appealed to the supreme court in suit number SC/201/2016. In its final ruling, the apex court affirmed the decisions of the lower courts, thereby reinforcing the legal framework against false declaration of funds by air travellers in Nigeria.
The judgement is seen as a significant precedent supporting the EFCC’s efforts to enforce compliance with money-laundering and foreign exchange laws at Nigerian airports.
